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#1
03-07-2012, 08:04 PM
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Where ecology hits the Bank Account
We got into a thought on another thread that was threatening to hijack it, so I am starting this one here.
We are talking about what those of us that have desires to leave as small a footprint as is PRACTICAL, given our different financial situations, can realize those desires short term, as much as possible, until we can get into situations where we can come closer to our individual goals, which might be far loftier than is practical at the present time. We were speaking about our personal cars and trucks, and what those of us who can not afford the newest and cleanest cars and trucks that do NOT live in areas with mass transit can do to have a smaller foot print. Let the discussions and hopefully NOT arguments begin. Niri Te 
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#2
03-07-2012, 09:32 PM
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I guess it can be viewed as a survival. Like people in Siberia HAVE to wear proper furcoats, hats & boots, if you don't you are quick, fresh, & dead frozen. However, to flash a furcoat in Mediterranean is a stupid & disrespectful luxury.
If your truck is a survival means, I am sure you can have a smaller footprint in a different way. I know your house for example (well, from your words) - you're trying to keep the impact as down as possible - & you're already doing the best you can, whatever is within your arm's reach, which is my philosophy. That's about all opinion I can offer.
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Knowledge is a chimera for beyond any knowledge there ever lies other knowledge that renders the previous knowledge false. (The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, The Unbeliever Vol.II- Stephen Donaldson) What the bleep do we know!  I know only this: Eywa has taken me on a ride... ... the one I don't want come back from
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#3
03-07-2012, 09:33 PM
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Haha, didn't realize this was turning into an entire discussion. All I can say is, I have a 97 Saturn which has pretty great mpg for the year and is very reliable. I only drive when absolutely necessary, but unfortunately, it's almost always necessary. Bikes work out around here a little depending on the area, but public transportation is the worst.
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#4
03-07-2012, 09:46 PM
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Good points ya'll... And very interesting conversations too.
Niri Te, how much will the much older car models cost nowadays? Pre-dating 1990? I'm from that era and I'm wondering if you could buy something like this even in this generation? Iyrao! 
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  Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has...
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#5
03-07-2012, 10:05 PM
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There are some "purists", that might think, "It doesn't matter, you must go to zero emissions in your vehicle, and if you can't afford that, then use a bicycle". To them I would say this. You must think of TOTAL SYSTEM FOOTPRINT. Let's stack up my modified truck whit it's "slightly dirtier" old carb and points controlled distributor, with IT'S total System Footprint, against a brand new Chevy Volt, that I could NEVER even HOPE to afford, and IT'S total system footprint.
The truck pollutes slightly more than a new gasoline powered EcoBoost Ford, yes, but there is no way that I could EVER get one, so it is OUT of the realm of probability. The Chevy Volt is even MORE expensive. Even if I COULD afford to buy them, if ANY of their myriad systems went down, I would have this several thousand pound hunk on metal a hundred miles from the closest place with the proper computers to diagnose them, where my "Old Fashioned", "Twentieth Century Antique" would still be running out here in the most desolate county in the State of Texas, with ALL testing, tune-ups and repairs done by ME. Now we get to the TOTAL system impact. My truck pollutes a little more than a new Ford, and a lot more than the totally electric one, BUT, the electric one is charged by the El Paso electric company that generates ALL of it's power BY BURNING COAL because the profit margin is greater!!! Looks like my old truck is slightly cleaner that the electric vehicle, when you figure in the FILTHY way that the electricity it uses is made. Niri Te
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#6
03-07-2012, 10:09 PM
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Quote:
I picked it up at a local towing company for a thousand dollars. It will fire up right now. Niri Te
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#7
03-08-2012, 12:20 AM
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Well said about practicality. It's pointless to eliminate absolutely everything if it makes it too difficult to function normally - and indeed, the fewer humans there are, the more room there is for everyone having a bit more.
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#8
03-08-2012, 01:08 AM
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Cars?
I ride my bike and use public transit to get where I need to go. Sadly, I'll probably have to start using a car soon, but we'll see. I was kind of proud of my reduced footprint because of the lack of driving.
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Modern technology owes ecology an apology. Trouble keeps me running faster Save the planet from disaster...
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#9
03-08-2012, 05:30 AM
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Out here if you don't drive, it is a Fifty mile walk to get your mail, a Ninety mile walk to get to the bank, a 160 mile walk to Ft Bliss for Medical Care, and shopping.
OBVIOUSLY we DRIVE, as there is ZERO Public Transportation in Hudspeth County Texas. I could NEVER AGAIN live ANYWHERE that when I look out my window, I'm not looking at the horizon with NO houses in the way. Niri Te
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#10
03-09-2012, 04:02 PM
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Well, I don't really drive at all since I'm in college, and my car battery has gone flat, so I haven't jumped it yet cause I haven't had to drive yet. But, my car had a problem, where all American cars have an emissions control thing put on them, that makes cleaner emissions. Well, mine broke in a way so that it greatly impacted the functionality of my car (couldn't go above 55, because it simply wouldn't go above 2500rpm) so I just took the emissions control thing out, and the car runs fine now, but isn't as clean. I don't have the money to get it fixed, and it might even be illegal, but at the time is was more a survival thing, I had to get to my job, that required going on the highway, and driving was very difficult in the state my car was in, and I didn't want to damage it farther.
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"Pardon me, I wanna live in a fantasy" "I wish I was a sacrifice but somehow still lived on" It seems like everybody is moving forward. As if there is some final goal they can achieve and get to. I don't get it though. When I look around, it seems like I'm already there, and there is nothing left to do. "You think you're so clever and classless and free, but you're still ****ing peasants as far as I can see." I wish I could take just one hour of what I experience out in nature, wrap it in a box, put a bow on it, and start handing out to people Nature has its own religion; gospel from the land I know I was born and I know that I'll die; The in between is mine."
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#12
03-09-2012, 07:47 PM
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Niri Te is also thinking of rebuilding the four carburtators on her 1980 superbike. If she starts now,we might JUST MIGHT be able to spend less money on fuel and get our blue txims to Seattle. CROSSING FINGERS!
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#13
03-09-2012, 08:17 PM
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Quote:
Two up it gets 45 to the gallon if I behave myself, but even at 135MPH she gets 35 to the gallon on the Interstate, the exhaust, sounding like ripping wet silk, (or a Formula one car at the same RPM). Niri Te
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